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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3296
ANSWERED ON 20.03.2026
RISING DEBT LIABILITY AND HIGH OPERATING RATIO
3296 SHRI K.R.N. RAJESHKUMAR:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) the details of the outstanding liabilities to the Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC), which
are reported to have crossed ₹4.50 lakh crore in 2025-26 and the projected repayment burden for the
2026-27 fiscal year;
(b) the reasons for the 11 per cent shortfall in passenger traffic targets in 2025-26 and the measures
taken to address the "acute congestion" in general and sleeper class coaches for long-distance
migrant travel; and
(c) the progress of the seven new High-Speed Rail corridors announced in the budget and whether any
specific budgetary allocation has been made for land acquisition for the Delhi-Varanasi and
Mumbai-Pune segments?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (c): Indian Railway Finance Corporation (IRFC) is dedicated market borrowing arm of the Indian
Railways (IR). Its primary business is financing of Rolling Stock Assets, Railway Infrastructure
Projects and leasing them to Indian Railways. Moreover, IRFC has the mandate of lending to other
entities which have a forward and backward linkages for the Railways such as power generation and
transmission, mining, fuel, coal, warehousing, telecom, hotels and catering, etc.
However, during the recent years, the Government of India has given adequate support to Indian
Railways (IR) from Gross Budgetary Support (GBS), which has been utilized for infrastructure projects
and Rolling Stocks which were previously financed through Extra Budgetary Resources (EBR). As per
Budget Estimate 2026-27, the projected debt repayment is Rs. 67,344 crore.
During 2025-26, against target of 738 crore passengers, about 700 crore passengers have already
travelled by February 2026.
Non AC Coaches (General and Sleeper coaches)
With a view to meet the demand of passengers travelling in unreserved coaches, Railways have
significantly increased the facilities for passengers demanding general class travel. During the last
financial year 2024-25 alone, 1250 general coaches have been utilised in various long-distance trains.
§In the current financial year (upto February, 2026), 860 Coaches have been utilised for permanent
augmentation.
To cater to the travel demand of the low- and middle-income families, Indian Railways have taken up
manufacturing of 17,000 non-AC coaches (general/sleeper) over the next 5 years.
On IR, the percentage of non-AC coaches, is about 70% as indicated below:
Table 1: Distribution of coaches:
Non-AC coaches (general and sleeper) ~62,000 ~70%
AC coaches ~27,000 ~30%
Total coaches ~89,000 100%
Due to higher availability of general coaches, the number of passengers traveling in general/ unreserved
coaches has shown an increasing trend as shown below:
Table 2: Passengers in general/unreserved coaches:
Year No. of Passengers
2020-21 99 Cr (Covid year)
2021-22 275 Cr (Covid year)
2022-23 553 Cr
2023-24 609 Cr
2024-25 651 Cr
The number of seats available for non-AC passengers has also increased. The current composition is as
follows:
Table 3: Distribution of seats:
Non-AC seats ~ 54 lakhs ~ 78%
AC seats ~ 15 lakhs ~ 22%
Total ~ 69 lakhs 100%
§Moreover, to provide greater accommodation for the passengers using General and non-AC Sleeper
Coaches, the extant policy regarding composition of Mail/Express trains provides for 12 (Twelve)
General class & Sleeper class non- AC coaches and 08 (eight) AC-Coaches, in a train of 22 coaches,
thereby providing greater accommodation for the passengers using General and non-AC Sleeper
Coaches.
Amrit Bharat service:
To provide affordable means of transportation to the low- and middle-income families, Indian Railways
have introduced Amrit Bharat services that are fully non-AC modern trains. As on 12.03.2026, 60
services are already in operation. The present composition of Amrit Bharat consists of 11 General Class
coaches, 8 Sleeper Class coaches, 01 Pantry Car and 02 Luggage cum Divyangjan coaches.
High Speed and enhanced Safety standards are the hallmarks of these trains with following enhanced
features and amenities:
Better aesthetics of seat and berths with enhanced look & feel on the lines of Vande Bharat
Sleeper.
Jerk Free Semi-Automatic Couplers.
Improved Crashworthiness in coaches by provision of crash tube.
Provision of CCTV system in all coaches.
Improved designs of toilets.
Improved design of Ladder for ease of climbing on to the berth.
Improved LED Light fitting & Charging Sockets.
Provision of EP assisted braking system.
Aerosol based fire suppression system in toilets and electrical cubicles.
USB Type-A and Type-C mobile charging sockets.
Emergency Talk Back system for two-way communication between Passenger and Guard/Train
Manager.
Non-AC pantry with enhanced heating capacity.
Fully sealed gangways with quick release mechanism for easy attachment and detachment.
Further, to cater to the needs of passengers desirous of availing unreserved accommodation,
Indian Railways (IR) operate unreserved non-AC passenger trains/ MEMU / EMU etc. for affordable
travel, which are in addition to the unreserved accommodation (coaches) available in Mail/Express
services.
§Presently, the following 60 Amrit Bharat Express services are being operated on the Indian Railways
network:
SN Train No. and Name
1 11015/11016 Lokmanya Tilak (T) - Saharsa Amrit Bharat Express
2 13697/13698 Gaya - Delhi Amrit Bharat Express
3 15293/15294 Muzaffarpur - Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express
4 15557/15558 Darbhanga - Anand Vihar (T) Amrit Bharat Express
5 15561/15562 Darbhanga - Gomtinagar Amrit Bharat Express
6 15567/15568 BapudhamMotihari - Anand Vihar (T) Amrit Bharat Express
7 22361/22362 Rajendranagar (T) - New Delhi Amrit Bharat Express
8 13433/13434 SMVT Bengaluru - Malda Town Amrit Bharat Express
9 13435/13436 Malda Town - Gomtinagar Amrit Bharat Express
10 15133/15134 Chhapra - Anand Vihar (T) Amrit Bharat Express
11 14047/14048 Sitamarhi - Delhi Amrit Bharat Express
12 14627/14628 Saharsa - Chheharta Amrit Bharat Express
13 19623/19624 Madar - Darbhanga Amrit Bharat Express
14 16601/16602 Erode - Jogbani Amrit Bharat Express
15 19021/19022 Udhna - Brahmapur Amrit Bharat Express
16 15671/15672 Kamakhya - Rohtak Amrit Bharat Express
17 20609/20610 New Jalpaiguri - Tiruchchirappalli Amrit Bharat Express
§18 16597/16598 SMVT Bengaluru - Alipurduar Amrit Bharat Express
19 11031/11032 Panvel - Alipurduar Amrit Bharat Express
20 16107/16108 Tambaram - Santragachi Amrit Bharat Express
21 13065/13066 Howrah - Anand Vihar (T) Amrit Bharat Express
22 22587/22588 Sealdah - Banaras Amrit Bharat Express
23 20603/20604 New Jalpaiguri - Nagercoil Amrit Bharat Express
24 15949/15950 Dibrugarh - Gomti Nagar Amrit Bharat Express
25 16121/16122 Tambaram - Thiruvananthapuram Central Amrit Bharat Express
26 16329/16330 Nagercoil - Mangaluru Amrit Bharat Express
27 17041/17042 Charlapalli - Thiruvananthapuram North Amrit Bharat Express
28 16619/16620 Podanur-Dhanbad Amrit Bharat Express
29 16357/16358 Nagercoil-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express
30 15673/15674 Kamakhya-Charlapalli Amrit Bharat Express
SPECIAL TRAINS
IR also operates Special train services during festivals, holidays, etc. to cater to the extra needs of
passengers and supplement the accommodation available by regular services.
Accordingly, the number of Special trains operated across the Indian Railways network, to facilitate the
passengers during summer/winter vacations, festivals, etc. are as below:
Year No. of trips
2023-24 ~40,500
2024-25 ~85,400
2025-26 (upto Feb, 2026) ~74,800
§High Speed Rail Corridors
Presently, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) Project (508 km) is under execution.
The Project is passing through the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Union Territory of Dadra &
Nagar Haveli with 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat,
Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.
Entire land (1389.5 Ha.) for MAHSR project has been acquired. All Statutory Clearances have been
obtained. All 1651 utilities have been shifted. The delay in land acquisition in the State of Maharashtra
has impacted the project till 2021. The land acquisition picked up in 2022 in Maharashtra.
The progress of various major items so far is as under:
Item Progress
Piers 430 kms.
Girder 341 kms.
Track Bed 174 kms.
OHE Masts 153 kms.
The progress of stations is given below:-
S.No. Station Status
Foundation works completed, Platform slab & roof structural
1 Sabarmati
works and finishing works are in progress.
2 Ahmedabad Structural works completed and finishing works have been
3 Anand/Nadiad taken up.
Foundation work completed, structural works and finishing
4 Vadodara
works have been taken up.
5 Bharuch
6 Surat Structural works completed and finishing works have been
7 Bilimora taken up.
8 Vapi
9 Boisar
Foundation works have been taken up and in advanced stage.
10 Virar
Structural works have been taken up.
11 Thane
This is an underground station. Foundation works almost
12 BKC (Mumbai)
completed and Base Slab has been taken up.
The progress on the River Bridges is as under:-
S.No. River Name Status
1 Sabarmati River (480m) Sub-Structure work completed, Superstructure
§work has been taken up.
2 Meshwa River (120m)
3 Vatrak River (280m) Bridge construction completed.
4 Mohar (Shedhi) River (160m)
5 Mahi River (720m) 11 out of 12 wells completed; 5 spans launched
6 Vishwamitri River (80m)
Bridge construction completed.
7 Dhadhar River (120m)
8 Narmada River (1366m) 21 out of 25 wells completed; 4 spans launched
9 Kim River (120m) Bridge construction completed.
Foundation work has been taken up, 10 out of 12
10 Tapi River (720m)
wells completed
11 Mindhola River (240m)
12 Purna River (360m)
13 Ambika River (200m)
14 Venganiya River (200m)
15 Kaveri River (120m)
16 Kharera River (120m) Bridge construction completed.
17 Auranga River (320m)
18 Par River (320m)
19 Kolak River (160m)
20 Daman Ganga River (360m)
21 Darotha River (80m)
22 Jagani River (360m) Foundation works have been completed
23 Vaitarna River (2320m) 12 Pile Cap and 11 Pier (out of 58) completed.
Temporary Access Bridge (TAB) completed to
24 Ulhas River Branch (120m)
start the foundation work.
Geo-technical Investigation (GTI) has been
25 Desai Khadi River Bridge (400m)
completed and Design work has been taken up.
The work of the under-sea tunnel (approximately 21 km) has commenced, out of which 4.8 km of
tunnel between Ghansoli and Shilphata in Maharashtra has been completed.
Further, to strengthen national transport infrastructure, provide a fillip to regional connectivity,
economic growth, tourism, investment and employment generation, and encourage modal shift from
road and air transport to rail, the Government has announced the development of the following seven
new High-Speed Rail (HSR) corridors in the Union Budget 2026-27: -
(i) Mumbai–Pune
(ii) Pune–Hyderabad
(iii) Hyderabad–Bengaluru
(iv) Hyderabad–Chennai
(v) Chennai–Bengaluru
(vi) Delhi–Varanasi
(vii) Varanasi–Siliguri
§Being highly capital intensive, the decision to sanction any HSR Corridor/Project depends on many
factors such as outcome of Detailed Project Report, techno-economic feasibility studies and availability
of resources such as financing options etc.
*****
§